HAMILTON
Well that day , July 6th 2008 , Lewis was motor racing ’ s answer to a speed-record-breaking expedition up Mount Everest …
In just under an hour and 40 minutes ’ work , he atoned for his pitlane gaffe running into the back of Kimi Räikkönen ’ s Ferrari in Montreal . In one mighty , drenched leap , he jumped back into the lead of the World Championship . And as rivals Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica failed to score , and Kimi struggled to a distant fourth , a whole lap behind , he made everyone else look like also rans as he won by over a minute in conditions that ranged from damp to drying to torrential rain .
As a demonstration of resolve and dominance , his peerless performance was reminiscent of Ayrton Senna ’ s greatest day , in the similarly tricky Grand Prix of Europe at Donington Park back in 1993 .
On his home ground after weeks of unrelenting pressure , he let the emotion flow as he described the success as ‘ by far the best victory I ever had , one of toughest races I have ever done . As I was driving I said “ I ’ ll believe if I win this that it is definitely the best race I have ever won ”. Coming into the last lap I could see the crowd beginning to stand , and I was praying just keep it on the track , just finish . You can ’ t imagine the emotions inside me . I wanted to push , but also just to get the car back .’ The young guy who ’ d become a man in Fuji the previous year transformed himself again into a superman , with a victory that was historic , literally as good as any that the sport ’ s best could have mustered . ‘ Today took an incredible amount of energy , to stay focused ; 100 per cent ; no more no less ,’ he said . ‘ I did a terrible job in qualifying , by my standards , but I just said I am not going out there to beat myself up and to try and do everything on the first lap . I would have been happy with a point for eighth today , and with that approach I remained relaxed and stayed calm . The three c ’ s : cool , calm and collected .
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